Following its launch in March of this year, Thiess Rehabilitation has been awarded its first contract – a 3.5-year partnership with Idemitsu Australia’s Ensham Resources to deliver mine rehabilitation solutions that create areas for native bushland corridors and cattle grazing across more than 700 ha of land.

Working with the client at the Ensham Mine, in Queensland, Australia, the scope of works includes the detailed design and construction of the final rehabilitated landforms, topsoiling and seed bed preparation, and sowing of both pasture and native tree species.

The team will apply industry-leading landform design methodologies, as well as the implementation of technology for surveying and seeding, to deliver the project, it says.

Thiess Rehabilitation’s Group Manager, James Anderson, said: “We’re really excited to work with Idemitsu’s Ensham Resources, who have already achieved more than 660 ha of progressive rehabilitation at the mine. We share an understanding that mining is about value, and that value is fully realised when we return the land to a sustainable and usable state.

“We’re looking forward to bringing our whole-of-mine-life insight to design, develop and deliver solutions to meet the needs of our clients and leave a positive legacy.”

Ensham Resources General Manager, Andy Mifflin, said: “We’re very pleased with our achievements to date, including attaining the Queensland’s Department of Environment and Science’s certification of the largest area of open-cut coal mining rehabilitation ever in Queensland, with a total of 663 ha of progressive rehabilitation utilised for long term cattle grazing.

“Ensham looks forward to working with Thiess Rehabilitation to achieve the successful completion of the next phase of our progressive rehabilitation.”

Idemitsu Australia commenced operations in 1993 using dragline strip mining methods and, during the life of the mine, the company has been progressively rehabilitating previously mined out areas.